Ariana: Afghanistan’s national football team went down 3-1 to Tajikistan in Dushanbe on Tuesday. Afghanistan’s only goal was scored by Jamshid Achakzai. This comes after Afghanistan’s 2-0 loss to Nepal on Saturday, also in Tajikistan. Click here to read more (external link).
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Taliban militants (file photo)
Afghanistan International: In an investigative report, the Guardian described the Taliban’s destruction of thousands of homes in Kabul as a catastrophic purge with an “ethnic motive”. In a report prepared in cooperation with four Afghan news organisations, it has been stated that large areas in mainly Hazara and Tajik-populated areas have been completely cleared. Click here to read more (external link).
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By RFE/RL’s Tajik Service
November 18, 2024
One Chinese national was killed and five others, four of them Chinese, were injured in a cross-border attack in Tajikistan’s Zarbuzi Gorge, two sources close to a Tajik investigation told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service on November 18.
The incident, which occurred in the southeastern Shamsiddin Shohin district, bordering Afghanistan, has not yet been officially addressed by the Tajik authorities.
According to the sources, the attack was carried out by armed individuals who crossed the border from Afghanistan. It remains unclear whether the attackers were criminals possibly involved in drug trafficking, a crime that is common in the area, or members of a militant group.
“Among the five injured, four are Chinese nationals and one is a local resident. All have been hospitalized in Shamsiddin Shohin district,” one of the sources said.
The Chinese nationals were reportedly working at a gold mine in the Zarbuzi Gorge. The attack marks the first known incident resulting in the death of a Chinese national in the volatile region.
The Shamsiddin Shohin district shares a porous border with Afghanistan that is often crossed by smugglers and militant groups.
Although the Taliban has assured neighboring countries that Afghan territory will not serve as a base for terrorist activities, Tajik authorities have been on high alert in recent years.
The deadly attack underscores persistent security concerns along Tajikistan’s southern frontier.
In August 2023, Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security reported killing three members of the banned Ansarullah militant group and seizing weapons in a separate cross-border operation.
These incidents highlight the ongoing threats posed by instability in Afghanistan, despite regional efforts to secure the border.
Other Tajikistan-Afghanistan News
Afghanistan International: Yue Xiaoyong, China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, announced that Beijing has provided about $64 million in aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in three years. According to SIGAR, the United States has also sent more than $3 billion to Afghanistan during this period. US aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in the past three years has been about 47 times higher than China’s. Some critics of the Taliban, as well as the US special inspector, say that the Taliban may have had access to and benefited from the money flowing into Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: Lutfullah Sadat, Afghanistan’s consul in Bonn, announced that he was submitting his resignation due to “restrictions and demands of the host country”. In early November, sources told Afghanistan International that Germany had asked Afghan diplomats to either engage with the Taliban or end their work. The sources also confirmed that other countries have also increased pressure on Afghan ambassadors over the past month, sending a message to “engage with the Taliban, or end your diplomatic mission”. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team delivered a commanding performance on Monday, defeating the United Arab Emirates by 169 runs in the second match of a tri-nation series. This victory follows Afghanistan’s earlier win last week, when they defeated Pakistan by 100 runs in the series opener. The tri-nation tournament has showcased the rising talent in Afghanistan’s cricket, with the Under-19 team demonstrating exceptional skill and determination on the field. Click here to read more (external link).
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8am: Continuing their widespread restrictions on publishers and booksellers in Afghanistan, the Taliban have seized thousands of books without compensation, and this process is ongoing. The Hasht-e Subh Daily obtained a copy of the list of books banned by the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, revealing that over 400 titles have been confiscated and their sale prohibited. Publishers argue that the actual number of banned books exceeds this list and that, within less than two years, the Taliban have collected thousands of books, causing significant financial losses. Click here to read more (external link).
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Forbes: Australia has strengthened its support for Afghanistan women’s cricket, but one of the sport’s thorniest issues remains in limbo. It was announced recently that an Afghanistan women’s team, consisting of refugees who moved to Australia, will play a match in Melbourne in January. It will be the first time an Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team has taken to the field since the Taliban’s bloody takeover in 2021. Click here to read more (external link).